We have made every effort to classify this collection according to the "rules" of the 17th century  WUNDERKAMMER; however, while musical or scientific instruments are easily grouped under the appropriate rubric of MUSICA or SCIENTIFICA, other objects are more complicated for the modern sensibility to categorize.  For example, an object such as a bézoard would have been listed under MIRABILIA, today it is considered NATURALIA, but without taking into consideration its rather mysterious nature.  It could well have been called CURIOSITAS, or if it were mounted in a precious metal, it might be considered ARTIFICIALIA.

So after careful consideration we have decided to group objects based on their "natural" qualities versus the amount of "human intervention" in their design or mounting or structure.Accordingly we have grouped items under NATURALIA or MIRABILIA or ARTIFICIALIA.  

To explain more fully, we have grouped "works of art" in ARTIFICIALIA, noting that they follow the rules or art, showing the hand of man in their construction, rather than remaining in a natural state.  

Under MIRABILIA we have placed objects of grand technical virtuosity but where the raw material while still recognizable.   Pieces in the "raw" state are grouped in NATURALIA.  In CURIOSITAS we find the unusual objects, notably made of less precious, less noble materials.  

In EXOTICA, we have grouped all ethnic objects, in METALLICA all iron works such as locks, keys, knives, and cutlery, and we use VARIA to include works of contemporary art.